Nuclear fuels: design constraints, irradiation induced changes and end of cycle impact

Clément Lemaignan

doi:10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01361-0

Du combustible nucléaire aux déchets : recherches actuelles/From nuclear fuels to waste: current research

Nuclear fuels: design constraints, irradiation induced changes and end of cycle impact
[Le combustible nucléaire : contraintes de conception, évolutions sous irradiation et impacts sur la fin de cycle]

Clément Lemaignan ¹

¹ CEA-Grenoble, Direction de l'énergie nucléaire, DEC Dir, 85X, 38041 Grenoble cedex, France

Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 763-772.

Résumé
Abstract

Lieu de la fission et donc de la source d'énergie, le combustible nucléaire constitue l'un des composants les plus critiques des réacteurs. Il présente d'autre part plusieurs caractéristiques prises en compte lors de la conception (génération de puissance thermique, création de produits de fission, contact avec le caloporteur…). Celles-ci évoluent au cours de l'irradiation (dommage d'irradiation, oxydation externe, évolution de composition et de propriétés…). Enfin le comportement après irradiation en réacteur, en particulier lors du transport et de l'entreposage, doit être considéré comme induisant une série de contraintes additionnelles qu'il doit pouvoir subir sans dommage.

En se focalisant sur le cas des combustibles des réacteurs à eau, très largement majoritaires, l'objet de cet article est de décrire les caractéristiques générales du combustible nucléaire et d'en illustrer en détail certains points particuliers.

Nuclear fuel is the material in which the fission reactions occur. As such, it has to support many constraints induced by heat generation, fission product creation, as well as interaction with the coolant. These constraints are taken into account and fulfilled by the design. However, during irradiation, many changes are known to occur. Among them, irradiation damage, OD oxidation and changes in chemical or physical characteristics are to be considered. In addition, intermediate storage adds new constraints that the fuel has to support. With emphasis on the water reactor fuels, by far the most important group, a review will be given of major points, focusing on a few specific areas.

Reçu le : 2002-03-06
Accepté le : 2002-05-27
Publié le : 2002-07-12

DOI : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01361-0

Keywords: nuclear fuel, engineering properties, irradiation effects, thermal behaviour, corrosion
Mot clés : combustible nucléaire, propriétés d'emploi, effets d'irradiation, thermique, corrosion

Affiliations des auteurs :

Clément Lemaignan ¹

¹ CEA-Grenoble, Direction de l'énergie nucléaire, DEC Dir, 85X, 38041 Grenoble cedex, France

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Clément Lemaignan. Nuclear fuels: design constraints, irradiation induced changes and end of cycle impact. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 763-772. doi : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01361-0. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01361-0/

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